Foldable lounge chair



Aug. 11, 1953 F. M. HILL FOLDABLE LOUNGE CHAIR Filed Sept. 12, 1952 HI 1 L 1 NVENTOR' ibrreszM Hill lumm l l 1 BY W ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE LOUNGE CHAIR Forrest M. Hill, Columbus, Ohio Application September 12, 1952, Serial No. 309,298

4; Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in lounging chairs, having particular reference to lounging chairs of the type which are constructed to, include pivotally united frame and leg members relatively arranged so that the chair may be folded when not in use to occupy but a minimum of storage space.

There exists currently a need for a comfortable and restful chair adapted for occasional usage and so formed as to enable occupants thereof to witness clearly and without strain or effort the action which transpires on the screens of television-receiving instruments. Conventional chairs, and other seating appliances, are often ill adapted as the result of their fundamental design in the matter of admitting of their convenient and comfortable employment on the part of those desiring to view a television screen. Television instruments are made in different sizes; some are adapted to be placed on the horizontal surfaces of tables or stands, while others embody full cabinets which rests directly on a floor, or other supporting surface. As a result of these conditions, the screens of such instruments are of different, sizes. and heights which produce discomfort or inconvenience on the part of observers. Many persons viewing television screens have found it advantageous to be seated directly on the floor, rather than to use the more or less standard types of chairs found in residential buildings.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable lounge chair which may be placed directly on the floor and formed with a main rectangular frame to which is pivotally united a swinging leg frame, the latter serving when actively positioned to support the main frame in a position in which the same occupies a plane disposed in acute angular relationship to the plane of the floor and disposed adjacent the floor, the main frame carrying a flexible webbing which acts as a combined seat and back rest in the support of a chairs occupant in a restful reclining position, enabling the occupant to observe the viewing screen of a television instrument without effort or strain and while the body of the occupant is comfortably and restfully supported.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lounging chair of this nature composed of pivotally united main and leg sections which are capable of being compactly folded so that said sections may be disposed in a single plane when the chair is not in use.

It is another object of, the invention to provide section of such a chair in an, active position of operation in which said leg section is arranged in substantially vertical order and in angular relationship to the operating plane of the associated main section of the chair, said means serving to prevent collapsing of the chair through undesired swinging movement on: the part of the legsection.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following. description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a folding lounge chair constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is. a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevational. view dis,- closing thepivotal connection between the main and leg sections of the chair;

Fig. 4 is aplan view showingthe constructional details of the parts-illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view disclosing a modified form of theinvention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the chair illustrated therein; comprises; a main frame, the latter in. this: instance consisting; of the-side rails ll which, attheir-lower, ends, are

united by a transversecross, bar or rung, 2, and

at their upper ends by a similarcross rung 3. In this instance, the bar 2, is substantially rectangular in transverse cross section, whereas the rung 3 is substantially round or circular. Joined with these rungs are theopposite endsof a bodysupporting fabric strip or webbing 4-. This strip or webbing is of sufficient length so that when the chair is actively positioned, as shown in Fig. 1, thev full weight of the occupant will be received by the strip or webbing, the latter performing the functions of a combined seat and back rest. If desired, the chair, may be provided at its upper end. with a pillow or cushion ii, the latter being .movahly connected with the upper cross rung 3, so that the pillow or cushion may be swung into an active position in which it overlies the upper portion of the strip or webbing 4, as shown in Fig. 1, or it may be swung to an inactive or out-of-the-way position in which it depends from the bar or rung 3.

To support the main frame in the inclined position disclosed in Fig. 1, there is provided a swinging leg frame 6, the same being composed of leg members 1 which are united intermediately of their ends by a cross bar shown at 8. In this instance, the upper ends of the leg members 1 are provided with openings 9 through which project the opposite ends of the cross rung 3, the latter providing a fulcrum about which the leg section may turn between active and inactive positions of use.

To positively hold the leg section in its active position, the upper portions of the rails I-I are formed with openings III for the sliding reception of pins II. The upper ends of the leg members I are likewise formed with registering openings I2 in which the pins II are received, after the manner indicated in Fig. 4. The pins I I include at their outer ends, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, leaf springs I3. These springs are fastened at one end to the rails II, and at their opposite ends to the outer portions of the pins II. It will be noted that the pins I I pass through openings in the leg members I which are disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of turning movement of the legs about the cross rung 3, thus locking the leg section of the chair against swinging movement when the same is actively engaged in the support of the main frame of the chair in its operative position. The construction of this locking means is, of course, subject to certain change, as, for example, through the employment of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5. In this figure, the pins Ila are formed with reduced outwardly extending shanks I4, the latter having knob-shaped outer ends I5 by which the pins may be conveniently grasped. In this instance, the rails I are formed with openings I6 for the reception of the pins I Ia, and coil springs I! are arranged between the enlarged portions of the pins Ila and keeper plate I8 fastened to the rails I, the springs surrounding the shanks I4 pressing inwardly on the pins Ila, causing their enlarged inner ends to be received within openings I9 formed in the leg members 'I. By this arrangement, one pulling on the outer ends I5 of the pins IIa will move the latter against resistance of the springs I1 sufliciently to withdraw the enlarged inner portions of the pins from the openings I9, enabling the leg frame to swing about the cross rung 3, as in the previously described form of my invention.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a lounge chair which may be comfortably employed while the occupant thereof occupies a reclining position, as in the viewing of television instruments. Of course, it will be understood that the chair may be employed for many other purposes. Because of the locking devices employed, the chair cannot fold up when it is in service, thus making it safe for use by the occupants thereof. The device is not in any sense a backrest alone, since the weight of the occupant is fully received within the chair.

I claim:

1. A folding lounge chair comprising: a main frame of rectangular configuration, said frame embodying spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, upper and lower transverse rung members uniting said side rails contiguous to the opposite ends thereof, flexible webbing secured at the ends thereof to said rung members, said webbing being of such length as to constitute a combined seat and backrest for the chairs occupant, a leg frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel leg members rigidly united by a cross rung, said leg members having the upper ends thereof formed with openings receiving the top rung member of said main frame, said leg frame being turnable about the longitudinal axis of said top rung member, and a movable locking pin.

slidably positioned in an opening formed in at least one of the rails of said main frame contiguous to said top rung, said pin being received in an opening formed in said leg frame contiguous to the rung member of the main frame on which said leg section is mounted for swinging movement.

2. A folding lounge chair as set forth in claim 1, and wherein a spring member is provided in conjunction with said main frame, said spring member being arranged for engagement with said pin to move the latter in a direction maintaining the same in holding engagement with said leg frame.

3. A folding lounge chair comprising: a main frame and body, spaced parallel longitudinally extending rails, upper and lower rung members transversely uniting said rails contiguous to the opposite ends thereof, flexible webbing secured to said rung members, said webbing being of such length as to constitute a combined seat and backrest, a leg frame for supporting said main frame in an inclined active position in which the main frame is disposed so that it is in acute angular relation to the horizontal, said leg frame embodying a pair of spaced members having aligned openings formed therein receiving the upper rung member of said main frame, whereby to enable said leg frame to turn bodily about the axis of said upper rung member, and manually operated means for positively retaining said leg frame in fixed relation to said main frame when the latter is actively positioned.

4. A folding lounge chair as specified in claim 3, and wherein the leg frame-retaining means comprises a spring-pressed pin slidably carried by at least one of the spaced rails of said main frame in position to engage with an opening formed in said leg frame, said opening being disposed in eccentric relation to the longitudinal axis of the rung member on which said leg frame is mounted for turning movement.

FORREST M. HILL.

Country Date 609,781 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1948 269,507 Italy Nov. 21, 1929 

